Since resuming its war on Gaza, Israel has been using a pressure tactic to force Hamas to negotiate under fire, Doha Institute for Graduate Studies professor Mohamad Elmasry has told Al Jazeera.

“The Israeli and American side want a no-strings attached deal, they want the captives back without having to commit to ending the war,” Elmasry said.

The Arab camp, on the other hand, wants an end to the onslaught in exchange for the release of all captives. “All the proposals coming from Hamas or the mediators require Israel to move to phase two of [the ceasefire] agreement and witness the beginning of the end of the war,” he said.

“Will Hamas be pressured enough into making a temporary arrangement without [the guarantee of] an end to the war? That remains to be seen.”